A Crashless Course in Avoiding Bird Collisions

Transcription

1 A Crashless Course in Avoiding Bird Collisions B irds hit windows. It s such a common phenomenon that it s rarely questioned. It s just a fact but it doesn t have to be. Solutions are right at our fingertips, and some are more surprising than you d think! Between 1 million and one billion birds die annually in the U.S. from glass strikes (Klem 29). Most people seem to think of strikes as separate, isolated, incidental occurrences, but unfortunately, collisions constitute an alarmingly widespread phenomenon that poses a hazard to some of our most at-risk and declining bird populations (Klem 214). Birders are in a great position to address birds hitting windows. We live and work where bird strikes happen, we have diverse connections, and we have the motivation to tackle conservation challenges where we see them. Or, perhaps, see through them. We must take the initiative and fix problem windows. If you know of a window that has been hit by a bird, it s likely not the first time for that window and probably will not be the last. Doing something to modify the window now will save bird lives in the future. This applies at home, at work, at school, and at any structure that has glass yes, even bus shelters! The gear required to make these Top: This window has one internal and three external decals, but they do not present enough of a visual obstacle to deter bird collisions. The light inside of the building is on but does not overpower the tree reflection. Photo Heidi Trudell Bottom: When perforated film dots (in this case, CollidEscape) are applied to the external surface of the window, there is a roughly 8% reduction in strikes. Two-inch spacing is ideal. The film dots create relatively low visual distraction when feeders are viewed or photographed from inside the building, compared to solid film or a window screen that would create noise in images. Photo Heidi Trudell 26 Birder s Guide to Gear November 216

2 changes can fit any budget and almost any aesthetic preference, and it requires only a few spacing guidelines to be effective. It s just a matter of understanding how and why collisions happen, as well as the dynamics of your particular window(s) of interest. For example, a lights out (turning a building s lights out from 1 p.m. to 5 a.m. during spring and fall migration) approach will reduce 8% of the bird mortality at a skyscraper but will do nothing for yard strikes. Similarly, even densely placed window clings will not prevent territorial aggression when a bird sees its reflection in glass. The only 1% effective prevention method is to make the glass appear solid and non-reflective. Placing markings on a window is one effective way to accomplish this, but note that it becomes less effective as the spacing between markings grows wider. (The American Bird Conservancy is testing this method at their Powdermill research site; see collisions.abcbirds.org to find out about the fantastic research they re doing.) The Compounded Problem Making windows safe for birds is more than just helping any given bird avoid an unnatural death at a pane of glass. It also reduces the likelihood of stunned birds being caught by cats, or by any of a number of other opportunists. Gulls, crows, dogs, raccoons, and even squirrels may prey on downed birds. Many summer collision victims show physiological indications of breeding, such as well-developed brood patches, leaving one to wonder if a hungry nestling is nearby or if a second nesting attempt has been thwarted. The healthy and fit breeding population of migratory birds not only face windows as an obstacle during post-breeding dispersal but also in the fall and again in the spring every year. What can you do to make a tangible effort in saving birds? Look no further than your nearest windows. Supplies to handle a variety of situations are listed below. The first part is for live or dead birds requiring immediate action. The Heidi Trudell November 216 Birder s Guide to Gear Ypsilanti, Michigan heidi@bigbendnature.com Left: Even buildings that have relatively small, angled windows that interrupt a horizon reflection can be a hazard to birds, though flat panes on the same building have a substantially higher strike rate. Photo Heidi Trudell Below: This window with one internal and three external decals was reported to kill about eight birds per year. Each Post-it note, however, indicates a strike print. Birds that survive hitting a window still have a 5% chance of dying due to injuries sustained in the strike. Photo Heidi Trudell 27

3 Avoiding Bird Collisions second part outlines some of the available options for prevention, with notes about their permanence, cost, and effectiveness. Some can even be implemented seasonally. For more information on the how and why of collisions, and what to do with an injured bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology s Problems with Windows webpage (tinyurl.com/ cornell-windows). Basic Emergency Kit for Surviving Casualties - Brown paper bag - Napkin or tissue to put in brown paper bag with the bird - Phone number for certified wildlife rehabilitator - Sense of calm urgency; contact the rehabber immediately Note that it is illegal to keep native bird species, even if you re trying to help them recover. Do not try to feed any injured bird unless you are directed to do so by the rehabber. Forensic Kit for Dead Birds - Napkin/paper towel/tissue - Sealable plastic bag - Permanent marker - Freezer - Phone number for collection/ museum/nature center (permits strongly suggested) - Paper/index card, on which to record the time, date, location (be as specific as possible: E side of X building at 12 This Road, City, County, State), collector s name, species if known, cause of death if known You may be wondering why you should pick up dead birds that hit windows. Every dead bird contains data. Teaching museum[s]...with finite resources...do not actively collect vertebrate specimens such as birds. Instead, the growth and usefulness of collections depend on donations of salvaged specimens, the highest quality of which are windowkilled specimens, says Tonya Haff of Top: Buildings surrounded by low-quality habitat are still likely to be struck by birds during migration. Poor habitat, however, may lower the odds of summer and winter strikes due to lower bird density. Blinds may help prevent some collisions, but this window has a much stronger reflection than the blinds can overcome. Photo Heidi Trudell Bottom: ABC Bird Tape is an easy and economical way to make interesting visual patterns that are within the 2"x4" inch spacing guidelines. Photo Mary Gustafson 28 Birder s Guide to Gear November 216

4 the University of California, Santa Cruz. Researchers can use tissue samples, stomach contents, and additional factors to study a dizzying array of information. Specimens can be tested to help us understand the impacts of pesticides, among other things. For example, eggshell specimens from museums were instrumental in helping link DDT to bird declines. Cost Estimates Based on a Large Window or Glass Door $ = free or very inexpensive, depending on what supplies you already have $$ = inexpensive but reasonable (depending on the scale of your project) $$$ = your generous budget is the limit Temporary Prevention/Concept Proofing Materials for Marking the Outside of the Window (may stain, smear, and/or fade) $ Bar of soap, lipstick, fake frost, window paint, highlighter, dry-erase marker, string, tape (such as electrical, masking; beware of residue) $$ UV liquid (Window Alert or craft paint) NOTE: Vertical stripes should be no more Top: Mirrored glass is understandably confusing to birds, especially when surrounded by trees. Photo Heidi Trudell Middle: Bird-safe glass should be encouraged as an architectural component, as seen here at Houston s Hobby Airport. The frosted horizontal lines meet the two-inch spacing guidelines and likely have a Low E (low emissivity). Photo Heidi Trudell Bottom: The corridor effect is when birds are able to see completely through two panes of glass. Elevated walkways that connect buildings are especially hazardous, though many buildings have aspects of transparency. Photo Heidi Trudell than 4 inches (1cm) apart. Horizontal stripes should be no more than 2 inches (5cm) apart. Checkerboard patterns of dots should follow similar spacing conventions. Include a healthy dose of creativity with your material of choice! Temporary (or Long-Term) Materials for the Inside of the Window $ Checkerboard of Post-it notes $ Hang one CD or DVD per square foot (3cm) $$ Install highly contrasting curtains (closed) with a busy, bold print November 216 Birder s Guide to Gear 29

5 Avoiding Bird Collisions NOTE: These may be very visually distracting. If the exterior surface of the window is mirrored or highly reflective, these solutions may not be visible from the outside at certain times of the day due to shifting light, or may not be visible at all, rendering them ineffective. Long-Term/Semi-Permanent Prevention for the Outside Surface of the Window $$ American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Bird Tape*, window film (CollidEscape, Feather Friendly, and similar)* ABC Bird Tape is not Bird Scare Tape, and since the writing of this article, CollidEscape has taken over manufacturing and distribution of ABC Bird Tape. Ordering ABC Bird Tape through CollidEscape may be cumbersome. $$ Acopian BirdSavers ( zen wind curtains ), which can be installed seasonally or permanently $$ Window clings, stickers, decals (spaced no more than a hand-width apart) $$ Netting (not appropriate for large windows, may not be appropriate in all seasons in all climates, may entangle birds if improperly installed), may be seasonal or permanent NOTE: These options are often available at wild bird or garden stores. They may be less visually obtrusive when applied as abstract stripes or dots rather than stamped shapes. ALSO CONSIDER: Move your feeders! Continued on page 32 Top: Stores that sell seed and feeders may have collision prevention products for sale. This display of decals, raptor silhouettes, UV liquid, and Bird Tape is at a Wild Birds Unlimited. Packaging and store suggestions may not accurately convey the amount of coverage required to prevent strikes. Photo Heidi Trudell Middle: Even buildings that are less than 5% glass on the exterior surface can be prone to bird strikes, regardless of window tint. If Acopian Bird Savers were installed, only three or four strings per window would be required for the upper windows. The lower windows are set back enough that items on the inside of the window would be visible, which is ideal for student art, sticky notes, CDs, etc. Photo Heidi Trudell Bottom: The corridor effect is especially apparent in this photo of a church room that has attempted to prevent window strikes with raptor silhouettes. This attempt is ineffective but would prevent most strikes if the gaps between the silhouettes were 2 4 inches apart. Photo Heidi Trudell 3 Birder s Guide to Gear November 216

6 Avoiding Bird Collisions Continued from page 3 Acopian Bird Savers are low-cost, easy to install, and simple as a DIY project. Photo Acopian BirdSavers Feeders should be placed 3 feet (or closer) from the glass. Strikes will still happen but at much slower speeds, resulting in fewer injuries and deaths. Another strategy is to place feeders well away from windows. Structural/Permanent Prevention $$$ Screens, solar screens $$$ Etched/frosted glass patterns (AviProtek and similar) $$$ Low-risk glass (ORNILUX and similar) NOTE: See birdsmartglass.org for a comprehensive review of glass-altering products and lower-risk glass and their relative effectiveness. Myth Busting - Dirty windows are ineffective. - Distress calls and noise deterrents are ineffective. - Falcon silhouette stickers are ineffective unless spaced very close together. - Plastic owls are ineffective. - Plastic snakes may deter territorial strikes, but are ineffective for everything else. Preventing strikes has a much bigger impact than just reducing the thump noises and the visible body count. It s not a natural death for the birds (Klem 1989), and those that die at windows are the healthy birds in prime condition for breeding, post-breeding dispersal, and migration. Birds that are already sick or injured are not magically drawn to windows to die. Even if a stunned bird flies away, half of the survivors will die of their injuries away from the window later (Klem 199). A wide variety of bird species die in collisions with glass. While hummingbirds and songbirds are among the most frequently found casualties during migration, strange things happen, like the Lights Out Baltimore team finding a Yellow Rail in April 216. Thank goodness that bird survived and was released, but most are not so lucky. Most residential buildings kill up to1 birds per year (Klem 1979), but campuses and office buildings average more than double that (Hager et al. 28). Technology continues to improve the structural integrity of plate glass, and its increased use in commercial building design is staggering. This architectural emphasis on glass combined with scenic landscaping is creating a deadly combination for birds. Groups all over the continent are seeking to make bird-safe buildings a reality. Toronto s Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) and the American Bird Conservancy are leading the push and reaching out to architects as well. Birdfriendly design has even been incorporated into the U.S. Green Building Council s celebrated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification (Chapter 55). Portland, Oregon, is an excellent example of a city that is not only part of the Urban Bird Treaty Cities program (organized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) but also has bird-safe building regulations in place. Unfortunately, we need look no further than the new Minnesota Vikings football stadium controversy to see that bird-safe measures are resisted when even moderately inconvenient. Plans for a highly reflective glass stadium were protested by local Audubon and Lights Continued on page Birder s Guide to Gear November 216

7 Avoiding Bird Collisions Continued from page 32 Left: The Ypsilanti District Library has soaring windows that face (and reflect) a wooded area to the east. In early 216, the library installed a sound system that plays distressed crow calls and hawk calls every ten minutes. While it initially drew the interest of jays and a Red-tailed Hawk, the system did not eliminate or even reduce strikes. Photo Heidi Trudell Right: This image shows how confusing glass is to birds: We see the ceiling of the building only if we look closely, but the dominant image is of trees and sky. The dusty print in the middle is the result of a young Mourning Dove that died as a result of the impact, most likely from brain hemorrhaging. Photo Heidi Trudell Out chapters, which pushed for birdsafe glass to be incorporated. Concerns were met with apathy and disbelief. The $5-million taxpayer contribution was fully half of the $1-billion budget, which has continuously crept upward. The Vikings contribution of $518 million towards enhancements did not earmark $6 million for bird-safe glass, and instead of addressing collision risk, their Frequently Asked Questions page boasts consideration of local landscapers and recycled material use, which are basic expectations for a project of that scale. Ultimately, glass poses a very preventable threat to bird populations, and we can address the issue in a variety of ways, starting by implementing birdsafe window practices at our homes and in our communities. When we find dead birds, we can donate their bodies to collections for research. And when we find problem buildings, we can work together to make solutions a reality. none 1. Owner (Do not leave blank. If the publication is owned by a corporation, give the name and address of the corporation immediately followed by the names and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock. 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8 Suggested Reading, Links, and Products Audubon Society of Portland. Bird-Safe Buildings. audubonportland.org/issues/hazards/ buildings/birdsafe birdsmartglass.org collisions.abcbirds.org Erickson, L Ways to Help Birds. Stackpole Books. FLAP.org Horton, J Products that Prevent Window Strikes. birdwatchingdaily.com/ featured-stories/15-products-that-preventwindows-strikes/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (216). Urban Bird Treaty. fws.gov/birds/grants/urbanbird-treaty.php References Klem, D. Jr Biology of Collisions Between Birds and Windows (256 pp). Ph.D. dissertation. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Klem, D. Jr Bird-window collisions. Wilson Bulletin 11(4): Klem, D. Jr Bird injuries, cause of death, and recuperation from collisions with windows. Journal of Field Ornithology 61(1): Hager, S. B., H. Trudell, K. J. McKay, S. M. Crandall, and L. Mayer. 28. Bird density and mortality at windows. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 12(3): Klem, D. Jr. 29. Avian mortality at windows: The second largest human source of bird mortality on Earth. Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference 28, McAllen, Texas, USA. USDA, Forest Service Technical Report. Klem, D. Jr Landscape, legal, and biodiversity threats that windows pose to birds: A review of an important conservation issue. Land 3: November 216 Birder s Guide to Gear 35